KOTTAYAM: Kerala Governor Justice(Retd) P. Sathasivam urged the decision makers of the Universities and the academic community to strive for academic excellence by creating society friendly knowledge and keep restraint from political biases in their actions.

He was addressing the third meeting of the Chancellor's Council at Mahatma Gandhi University comprising of the Vice Chancellors in Kerala to improve the performance of the Universities, by promoting inter-varsity cooperation and coordination, constituted for the first time in the country.

Continuous performance monitoring initiated by the Council has started reaping results within a short span of three years where by four Universities in the State has figured in the National Institutional Ranking Framework constituted by the Ministry of Human Resources. Governor lauded CUSAT, University of Kerala, Calicut and Mahatma Gandhi University for their academic leapfrogging. This is only a beginning, and all institutions have to improve their ratings through quality improvement. It is flattening to note that the top positions in many of the Universities are lying vacant due to the legal entanglements. The institutions have to take speedy action to earn favorable verdict in the legal cases.

Higher education institutions should work together to prevent sexual harassment in campuses, drug abuse, ensure gender equality and provide disabled friendly amenities. Universities should think of encouraging blood donation by maintaining Blood Donor Registry in Universities and Affiliated Colleges. Priority should also be given for extracurricular activities. From this year onwards Rs. One Crore has been earmarked to best performing emerging University, besides Rs 5 Crores for the larger ones.

Answering a query from the media persons in the press briefing, the Governor opined that the incumbents to academic bodies should keep restraint from political affiliations, while taking decisions. Unbiased and judicious decisions will enable the higher education sector to shine well in the global scenario.

Addressing the Council meeting the Education Minister Prof C. Raveendranath requested Vice chancellors to reengineer the research processes to produce pro-poor, eco sensitive and society friendly knowledge. Dissemination of the knowledge produced using state of the art technologies also require immediate attention to surge ahead in the competitive world. The interest of the scholars should always get prime concern- Minister told.